American Studies Undergraduate Program

The Centre for the Study of the United States (CSUS) offers a vibrant, interdisciplinary, undergraduate program in American Studies. Dedicated exclusively to American politics, culture, and society, the Centre hosts Canada’s largest concentration of U.S.-focused scholars. As a result, American Studies students have access to an extensive range of courses, in both the humanities and the social sciences, including core American Studies classes, as well as, a wide range of American themed classes in affiliated departments. With all of the benefits of a boutique program at a world class university, the American Studies program features outstanding faculty, small classes, topical courses, as well as an annual undergraduate journal. In addition to the major program in American Studies, a minor option is also available. As a double major or minor, the American Studies Program is a particularly stimulating match with other disciplines, including International Relations, English, Political Science, Geography, and History.

SUMMER 2019

This course examines the ways in which social inequality begets educational inequality, and how educational inequality reproduces social inequality in broader society. Drawing primarily from sociological scholarship, the course will review some of main academic debates on the nature of links between social and educational inequality in the United States and in some cases, for comparative purposes, Canada and the Caribbean region. Students will engage these debates by studying classic and contemporary theories and case-study research in these areas. Students will come to recognize the structural forces of inequality in neighborhoods and schools, and how those forces contribute to unequal opportunities, experiences, and achievement outcomes for students along lines of race/ethnicity, class, gender, and citizenship status. Specific topics to be covered include neighborhood and school segregation, culture, networks, stereotypes, and immigrant assimilation patterns. Graded course requirements include participation in small group discussions, autobiographical reflection, quantitative reasoning assignment and critical film review.

Prerequisite: At least two courses (2.0 FCEs) from the American Studies list of eligible courses, or by special permission of instructor.Distribution Requirement: Humanities or Social ScienceBreadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations

Fall 2019

Students in this course will examine the politics, history, and culture of the United States through a selection of “keywords” from the field of American Studies (i.e. nation, frontier, race, gender, memorials, etc.). Through a critical analysis of primary readings from American Studies scholars, as well as other academic and contemporary writing, we will interrogate and problematize the keywords in question. A central focus of our analysis will be the social, cultural, and political contexts surrounding our keywords, as well as their representation in mediated texts. The instructor will also provide a material “object of the week” which functions as a fun and engaging entry point into the issues and debates related to the week’s topic. The object and its significance will be discussed and debated by the students in conjunction with the instructor.

The United States is home to five percent of the world’s population but twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners, including a disproportionate number of African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. This vast carceral archipelago generates significant profits for private corporations while exacerbating government deficits and wreaking havoc in those communities targeted by systematic policing and imprisonment. It has also provoked public and scholarly debates about the history, ethics, and function of incarceration in the United States. In this course, we will consider the rise of contemporary mass incarceration from an interdisciplinary perspective that draws upon history, sociology, and legal scholarship.

Sample Texts: Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2010); James Forman, Locking up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America (2017); Torrie Hester, Deportation: The Origins of U.S. Policy (2017); Laleh Khalili, Time in the Shadows: Confinement and Counterinsurgencies (2012); Khalil Muhammad, The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern America (2010).

This course offers a survey of American constitutional law in the area of civil liberties. The general domains of doctrinal development to be covered include: fundamental rights; freedoms of speech, press, and assembly; freedom of (and freedom from) religion; rights to privacy and autonomy; the guarantees of due process and equal protection of the laws; sexual and familial rights; and economic and socio-economic rights (or their absence). To make sense of the jurisprudential developments in each of these areas, the course will also take account of broader trends in legal history, social transformation, and constitutional interpretation.

The United States has gone to war regularly over the past two centuries and this course will consider how decisions to do so have changed — or not changed — over time. Key case studies will include the War of 1812, the Mexican War (1846-48), the Spanish-American-Cuban War (1898), World War I (1917-18), World War II (1941-45), the Korean War (1950-53), Vietnam (1954-73), and Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 21st century.

America was born from protest, but the nation’s tradition of rebellious critique was only beginning when settlers took up arms against the British and made a republic out of a colony. Starting with the Declaration of Independence and continuing through the #MeToo movement, this course will examine the many texts and long history of American public dissent. Along the way, we’ll read Harriet Jacobs’ abolitionist memoir, meet Tim O’Brien’s traumatized soldier in the Vietnam War collection The Things We Carried, and consider the digitization of protest in Black Lives Matter. Throughout the class we’ll explore precisely how dissent is articulated, and examine techniques including moral suasion, agitprop and sentimentalism.

WINTER 2020

This course, required for majors and minors, but open to all who have met the prerequisites, explores a range of approaches to the field of American Studies. Students will be introduced to some of the many ‘theories and methods’ that have animated the field of American Studies, including historical methods; formal analysis of visual and literary texts; and key concepts, such as commodity chain analysis; ‘race,’ ‘commodity,’ ‘gender,’ ‘diaspora,’ and ‘affect.’

American Studies offers a powerful set of tools with which to study race, gender, sexuality or class in daily life. This course joins those to studies of large institutions or forces of economic power, such as corporations, global capitalism, global race, and empire. The class will draw methods and analytic approaches from across the field of American Studies to consider how we might develop a toolkit for thinking, researching, and writing about capitalist economic ideas as culturally embedded, regulated, and produced. We will explore perspectives offered by American Studies scholars trained in communications, science and technology studies, literature, anthropology, sociology, history, musicology, and visual studies, bridging both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Students will be introduced to classic texts as well as to more recent work that examines the social, cultural, environmental, gendered, and ethical aspects of economic life under U.S. capitalism.

USA400H1S: Topics in American Studies: The End of the World as we Know It: America’s Love Affair with Apocalypse
Instructor: Alexandra Rahr
Tuesdays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm; Enrollment Cap: 25

A 2014 study revealed that Americans are much more sunnily positive than Europeans – a finding that seems to confirm the longstanding stereotype of the optimistic American. Yet since its earliest days, the republic has also been troubled – and thrilled – by fears that the end is nigh. This course will examine the persistence of apocalyptic visions in American history and culture. We’ll listen to the cult classic album Sounds of American Doomsday Cults, Vol 14, read Jonathan Edwards’ famous hellfire sermon ‘Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God’ and watch the pop satire of ‘The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.’ While analyzing the relationship between Armageddon and exceptionalism, we’ll also consider exactly what apocalyptic narratives reveal about the republic – particularly in an era of environmental crisis that might just presage a new kind of end times.

This is a course in vernacular media. It is interested in exploring the longstanding and constantly changing relationship between print and other forms of media, including film, radio, television and more recent online platforms. Conepts like “convergence culture” and “transmedia storytelling,” as useful as they are for describing our current intermediated lives, aren’t new. This course explores a long history of intermediality in which popular cultural forms – comics, cartoons, films, radio programs, etc. – become forums for exploring important social, cultural, and political ideas considered too “lowbrow” for more refined forms of cultural practice and production.

This course explores the substance and nature of American political development. It will begin by examining the methodology, mechanisms, and patterns of American political development from the founding to the present. Emphasis will be placed on divergent perspectives on the nature of political development, particularly narratives of continuity and discontinuity. The course will also address the following topics: the Constitution and the founding; political economy, trade, and industrialization; bureaucracy and administration; citizenship and inclusion; race and civil rights; law and legal development; political institutions; and political parties.

Eligible courses

Updated July 2019

NOTE: The list below is not exhaustive. In general, courses with 50% or more American content may be allowed. Students need to seek early approval of program credit for such courses from the CSUS Director.

USA200H1 Introduction to American Studies
USA300H1 Theories and Methods in American Studies
USA310H1 Approaches to American Studies
USA311H1 Approaches to American Studies
USA312H1 Approaches to American Studies
USA313H1 Approaches to American Studies
USA400H1 Topics in American Studies
USA401H1 Topics in American Studies
USA402H1 Topics in American Studies
USA403H1 Topics in American Studies
USA494H1 Independent Studies
USA495Y1 Independent Studies

Cinema Studies

CIN211H1 Science Fiction Film
CIN230H1 The Business of Film
CIN270Y1 American Popular Film Since 1970
CIN310Y1 Avant-Garde and Experimental Film
CIN334H1 The Origins of the Animation Industry, 1900-1950: A Technosocial History
CIN335H1 American Animation after 1950
CIN374Y1 American Filmmaking in the Studio Era
CIN431H1 Advanced Study in Cinema as Social and Cultural Practice
CIN490Y1 Independent Studies in Cinema
CIN491H1 Independent Studies in Cinema
CIN492H1 Independent Studies in Cinema

Economics

ECO306H1 American Economic History

English

ENG250H1 Introduction to American Literature
ENG235H1 The Graphic Novel
ENG270H1 Introduction to Colonial and Postcolonial Writing
ENG355Y1 Transnational Indigenous Literatures
ENG360H1 Early American Literature
ENG363Y1 American Literature to 1900
ENG364Y1 American Literature 1900 to the present
ENG365H1 Contemporary American Fiction
ENG368H1 Asian North American Literature

HIS106Y1 The African Diaspora in the Americas, 1492-1804
HIS202H1 Gender, Race and Science
HIS221H1 African American History to 1865
HIS222H1 African American History from 1865 to the Present
HIS271Y1 American History Since 1607
HIS300H1 Energy and Environment in North American History
HIS310H1 Histories of North American Consumer Culture
HIS343H1 History of Modern Espionage
HIS345H1 History and Film
HIS366H1 Aboriginal Peoples of the Great Lakes from 1815 to the Present
HIS369H1 Aboriginal Peoples of the Great Lakes from 1500 to 1830
HIS374H1 American Consumerism – The Beginnings
HIS376H1 The United States: Now and Then
HIS377H1 20th-Century American Foreign Relations
HIS378H1 America in the 1960s
HIS379H1 Vietnam at War
HIS389H1 Topics in History
HIS389Y1 Topics in History
HIS396H1 The Progressive Era and Rise of Big Business in America
HIS400H1 The American War in Vietnam
HIS401Y1 History of the Cold War
HIS404H1 Topics in U.S. History
HIS411H1 Great Trials in History
HIS463H1 Cloth in American History to 1865
HIS464H1 Religion and Violence in Comparative Perspective
HIS465Y1 Gender and International Relations
HIS473H1 The United States and Asia since 1945
HIS479H1 US Foreign Policy Since World War II
HIS484H1 The Car in North American History
HIS487H1 Animal and Human Rights in Anglo-American Culture
HIS497H1 Animal Politics and Science

Indigenous Studies

INS302H1 Indigenous Representation in the Mass Media and Society
INS341H1 North American Indigenous Theatre

Music

MUS306H1 Popular Music in North America

Political Science

POL203Y1 U.S. Government and Politics
POL326Y1 United States Foreign Policy
POL379H1 Topics in Comparative Politics III
POL404Y1 Public, Private and the Liberal State
POL433H1 Topics in United States Government and Politics
POL464H1 Urban Policy and Policymaking

Religion

RLG315H1 Rites of Passage

program REQUIREMENTS

Major in American Studies (Arts program)

Completion Requirements: As of 2019-2020 Academic Year

7.0 full courses or equivalent to a total of 7.0 FCEs, specified as follows:

4. 0.5 FCE in Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical or Mathematical Universe, or another half course approved by the CSUS Program Director, to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning competency requirement of the program.

6. At least 2.0 FCEs of the student’s 7.0 FCEs must be at the 300-level or above.

7. At least 1.5 FCEs of the student’s program must be in American Studies (USA prefix courses), at the 300- or 400-level.

Recommended Sequence of Courses:

First Year:

Students are encouraged to take any pre-requisites for the 200-level gateway course required, and/or enroll directly in USA200H1 as a first year student. Of the required second-year disciplinary survey courses, only one– POL203Y1–has a pre-requisite; students interested in politics, therefore, should take one full POL course, a pre-requisite for POL203Y1. Other recommended courses at the first year level include: HIS106Y1.

USA300H1, plus other eligible courses, to a total of 7.0 FCEs. At least 2.0 of these courses must be at the 300-level or above. At least 1.5 of these courses must be in American Studies (USA prefix courses) at the 300- or 400-level. Courses must be chosen in a way that satisfies the disciplinary/thematic variety described above, plus 0.5 FCE in Breadth Requirement Category 5, or another half course approved by the CSUS Program Director, to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning competency requirement of the program.

NOTE: Other 300+ series courses with 50% or more American content may be allowed; students should seek early approval of program credit for such courses from the CSUS Director.

MINOR IN AMERICAN STUDIES (ARTS PROGRAM)

(4 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 300+ series course in at least two disciplines)

NOTE: Other 300+ series courses with American content may be allowed; students should seek early approval of program credit for such courses.

For a detailed list of courses please consult the links above.

frequently asked questions

How do I declare my major in American Studies?Enrolment is done through ROSI. You must have successfully completed four full-course equivalents but need no minimum GPA. Instructions are given in the Registration Handbook and Timetable.

May the courses I have taken for a major in another program count toward my major in American Studies?
The rule is that students doing two majors must have 12 separate courses to qualify for both majors, meaning that some double counting is possible, but usually amounting to only one or two courses. See the Faculty of Arts and Science Calendar for details.

Is it possible to double count American Studies Credits with other Majors/Minors?
The policy of the Faculty of Arts and Science is as follows: “Two major programs, which must include 12 different courses OR One major and two minor programs, which must include 12 different courses” A limited amount of double counting is sometimes allowed. CSUS only has jurisdiction over the USA courses, students must check with the department responsible for the course for permission to double count.

Do I need to meet all the prerequisites?
Students are required to have completed HIS271 or POL203 or ENG250 or GGR240H1/GGR254H1 before enrolling in USA300. However, on a case by case basis, students have been allowed to take the prerequisite concurrently with USA300 or to substitute other courses with similar content to the prerequisites. The decision is made by the Director of CSUS. If a student has taken more than one of the pre-requisites, all can be counted towards the degree.

Do I need to meet the breadth requirement?
Students are required to meet a breadth requirement for a major/minor in American Studies of at least 3 disciplines, meaning course work in history, political science, english, for example. While a broader course of study is preferable, USA designated courses can be counted as a separate discipline if needed to meet the requirement.

Are there any approved courses not on the list?
The list of approved courses in the calendar is not exhaustive. Departments offer many half courses, “Topics in...”, that can change from year to year and are therefore not included on the list. Students interested in having a course approved for American Studies credit should contact the program coordinator and/or CSUS Director. The criteria for approval is at least 50% American content. Students should submit syllabi by email to the CSUS Director at csus.director@utoronto.ca, with a cc to csus@utoronto.ca, to initiate the approval process.

News for Undergraduates

CSUS DIRECTOR OFFICE HOURS: Summer 2019

The CSUS Director, Prof. Nic Sammond, will be holding office by an appointment only. To make an appointment please email: csus.director@utoronto.ca. His office is in Room 326N North House, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place.

The Undergraduate Society of American Studies (USAS) is the course union that represents all students in the American Studies major or minor programs, or any student enrolled in 0.5 or more USA-coded classes.

internships and awards

CSUS either sponsors, or collaborates with other organizations, on several internships and awards each year. These opportunities are available to undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or faculty.

I. Internships for students

U.S. Consulate, Toronto

The American Consulate General in Toronto, Canada offers internship positions for students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada, in the Political/Economic and Consular Sections three times per year (during the Fall, Winter-Spring, and Summer sessions). Students chosen for the program are required to participate as an intern for at least 10 weeks on a full-time basis. The positions within this program are voluntary, without salary or benefits. The Intern Program gives students valuable work experience in a challenging foreign affairs arena. For further information, please visit their website at: http://toronto.usconsulate.gov/about-us/internship-opportunities/, or you may contact Human Resources by email at: TRTHR@state.gov, or by mail: 360 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1S4. The internships are run through the US Consulate; CSUS plays no role in the selection of interns.

Open to: Non-U.S. Citizen Students*. Candidates must be enrolled half-time or more in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, college, university or comparable recognized educational institute in the field of International Relations, Communications, Political Science or Public Administration, as well as related disciplines. For additional details on how to apply to this internship, please see this page.

Canadian Embassy Internship Program, Washington, DC

The Embassy offers several unpaid, full-time internship possibilities in Public Affairs: Academic Relations, Culture, Press/Media, and Information Services. There are frequently positions available in Trade, Environment, Energy and Congressional Relations. Deadlines are three times throughout the year, in relationship to academic terms. This internship is administered by the Canadian Embassy; CSUS has no formal relationship. More information is available here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/washington/offices-bureaux/contact-coordonnees/internships_stages.aspx?menu_id=339&view=d

Consulate General of Canada, New York City

This is a paid internship available only to students who are enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Toronto at the time of application. In the past this internship has been in the Political/Economic Relations and Public Affairs section. Interested students make an application to the Centre for the Study of the United States by the announced deadline. We then make a decision to forward two names to the Consulate General in NY; and then, the Consulate General will select the final recipient(s). This is a two-stage process and in the second stage nominees from the University of Toronto compete against candidates from other Canadian universities. ***Due to broad strategic operations reviews at all Canadian consulates, they are currently not sure which shape, if any, their internship programs will be taking in the coming year.***

Funded by Canada and the US; deadline November 15. Grants of four to nine months to Canadian students who wish to study in the US. (U.S. citizens are not eligible). Please note that this award is available for all sorts of study, including both graduate work (in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences) and in the professional fields (law, medicine, business, public policy.) In addition, note that the student aspect of the Fulbright is available to advanced undergraduates seeking to enter a graduate program in the U.S., to current MA students who are applying to PhD and professional degree programs; and to current PhD students seeking a year in the US as part of their dissertation research. If you have further interest in the program, please consult the website here: http://www.fulbright.ca/programs/canadian-students.html. Also, please feel free to make an appointment with the CSUS Director to discuss the program in more detail.

III. Awards for Faculty to go to the United States

Available to Canadian scholars and senior professionals (who are not US citizens) who want to lecture and/or do research in the US during the following academic year. Competition opens in May of each year, and the deadline is Nov. 15th of each year. For further information about this award, please see their website here: http://www.fulbright.ca/programs/canadian-scholars.html

life after graduation

INTERNSHip opportunity for Recent graduates

The Ontario Legislature Internship Programme runs an internship for recent graduates at Queen’s Park, Toronto. The internship lasts 10 months, from 1st September – 30th June each year, and is a paid stipend, as it is an academic programme, and as such is classed as a scholarship bursary. Interns travel to the US each year to compare the two systems (Canadian and US) and gain a greater overview of world politics, but is based more at a state / province level. More information can be found at http://www.olipinterns.ca/